Extra, extra! Update with fresh video from the training.

From March 2nd to 10th I was one of the participants/trainers of the training of trainers It’s up to me 3, in Diepenau, Germany. The aim of the training was to create a new generation of trainers by using learning by doing methods. The main objectives were:

• Know-how: learn why and how somes activities are done and what is behind the scenes.
• Improve our soft skills.
• Provide and receive feedback.
• Know different styles of trainers.
• Self-assesment to evaluate our qualities.

What did we do? We spent 7 days working, learning and living together, pushing our limits in very different situations. Each of us had different challenges; for some it was the fear to stage; for others to express their feelings, to manage and deliver a workshop or to work with deadlines. We had many sessions on listening skills, debates, creativity, non verbal communication, public speaking…and the crucial point of all of them was the debriefing. That moment where everybody felt free to express their feelings about the activity or to keep them for themselves.

We also had leisure moments where we put all our imagination and efforts. Specially challenging were the national evenings, where national groups had to prepare dinner for more than 40 people and present their culture and traditions. But that was not all. During the whole training more small workshops were developed according to our knowledge and needs. There were specific sessions for women and men, quizzes, acroyoga sessions, weird abilities trainings… In addition, we enjoyed our free afternoon in the close town Minden, a lovely and peaceful place to keep the ideas flowing.

A very important topic of the training was team building. I was not only encouraged during the work in small teams, but also as a big group. The gossip box and the secret friend game were the perfect combination to keep the spirit up. Every small detail was taken into account to create and maintain the atmosphere of a group working and learning together.

This training was special not only on a professional level, but also on personal level. We had time to reflect, to think about the past and the future, to make ideas happen, to go with the flow, to take the initiative, to listen, to hug (remember it was one of my New Year’s resolutions), to learn that there are no bad and good feelings, to take others help, to surprise others, to relieve others and above all, to accept. We went through a lot of feelings during this training, more than any ever. From frustration to happiness, from fear to gratitude.

After the training some projects are already drafted, some partnership ideas have appeared and some friendship have started. And most of all, we got the seed of being the best trainers ever. And now it’s up to us.

As a conclusion, one of the sessions come to my mind. The workshop delivered by one of the groups, made us think of a inspiring moment in our lives we wanted to share in one minute. We had 10 minutes to prepare it, practise in front of the mirror and get ready for presentation. My idea was, of course about my EVS; more specifically about how it happened. A lot of people used to ask me why I had choosen Serbia to go on EVS; then I started the story from the beginning to finishing saying that Serbia had chosen me. As in life, sometimes we don’t know where to go, but life knows where to take us.

Photo credits to Ayhan Feraset.